SCOUTS from the 1st Newton Aycliffe Group have been spending the festive season in Thailand.

Teenagers Ben Kelsey and Michael Drew are among 30,000 Scouts from nearly 200 countries gathering for the 20th World Scout Jamboree at Sattahip.

Scouts and leaders from 60 units have been working together since being selected nearly two years ago to represent the UK. Each Scout has raised nearly £2,500 to attend the event.

Ben, from Woodham and a student at New College, Durham, and Michael, from West Cornforth, a student at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, received support from Bishop Auckland District Scout Council and a number of local organisations.

Great Aycliffe Town Council and West Cornforth Parish Council also made donations towards the trip. At the close of the Jamboree each Scout from the UK will travel to Malaysia where they will spend three days in a host Scout's home.